Aug 19, 2015

From UK: The Sorcerers

Taking influences from Ethiopiques ethiojazz as well as the soundtracks
to the European horror films of the 60s and 70s, The Sorcerers
seamlessly blend these disparate elements into one cohesive package.
Based in ATA Records' home of Leeds, The Sorcerers are made up of the
cream of the city's jazz and world scene. Forming the backbone of the
ATA Records house band they incorporate bass clarinets, flutes, and
vibraphone alongside bass, guitar organ and drums, providing
Ellingtonian textures on top of a solid rhythmic foundation.

After featuring on the "Funk, Soul & Afro rarities: An Introduction
to ATA Records" compilation from Here and Now records last year, they
set to work recording a full length LP at the studios of record label
ATA Records.

"The Sorcerers are the Ethiopiques of the modern age"
- Jazzman Gerald.

Initially inspired by the work of Ethiopian composer Mulatu Astatke, the
Sorcerers have deftly incorporated a wide breadth of musical influences
from the creepy metallic textures and quietly insistent rhythm section
of "Pinch Of The Death Nerve" through to the Moondogesque melodies of
the Viking of 5th street and the KPM inspired orchestration of closing
track night of the sorcerer. The LP also includes an alternate version
of "Cave Of Brahma", a heavily Mulatu influenced track that featured on
the ATA Records compilation. The album has a dark undercurrent that
weaves throughout all 8 tracks, underpinning the album with an
unsettling and evocative theme.

Support comes from Jazzman Gerald, Jimi Tenor, Shawn Lee, Nightmares On
Wax and Mulatu Astatke himself who heard the album during a recent trip
to London. On hearing the record he exclaimed "Who's this? The
Sorcerers? It's cool! This is great. Give me the cd man!". He has since
gone on to play The Sorcerers on his Addis Ababa radio show.

Music sounds and styles take many various forms, and a lot of sounds
eventually come full circle in return. We’ve seen a certain funk and
soul sound akin to the late 60’s pop up, as well as garage, even boom
bap hip hop makes a resurgence in modern day tracks. While Ethio-Jazz
is something that is touched upon by a few bands, usually combined with
African rhythms, highlife, or afrobeat, a band emerges out of Leeds,
England to take on a whole genre and then some. The Sorcerers, the
house band for the Leeds label ATA, were formed by the guitarist Pete
Williams and bassist Neil Innes after writing some Ethio inspired music
for a 7″. Featuring Joost Hendrickx on drum, Johnny Richards on pino,
and the multi-instrumentalist Richard Ormond, the response was so
overwhelming that they decided to do a whole recrod. Heavily influenced
by Ehthiopian Jazz, but also blending the sounds of 60’s and 70’s
European horror films, this band has been championed by the likes of
Jazzman Gerald (who quoted the title of this article) and probably the
most well known of all Ethio-Jazz musicians Mulatu Estatke. If that
isn’t a cosign to the highest level, we don’t know what is. If you’re a
fan of his work (and if you’re not, you should be), you will be
delighted at this record. Properly recorded by this ace band, you will
be amazed as they forge a path of their own in the modern world with
theses past influences and their own special sound. Preserving and
spreading this gospel to a whole new population of listeners, The
Sorcerers nailed it on this record. “The Horror”, a sample from the
record is Ehtio-Jazz right down to the core. A pounding, steady
backbeat, eerie organ, and horns sit nicely with the bass line. It’s
not hard to get up out of your seat and move to their groove on this
track. They are living the music, and we are receiving the this aural
transmission to pass it on to the next listener. It transports you back
to when Mulatu was in London, or making music at Berklee, or even a
night club in Addis Ababa. It feels that authentic. A most unique
release, we are delighted to present this record to you today.
Available worldwide August 7th on ATA Records on LP, CD, and digital.

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